Neck-yoke center.



No. 807,810. PATENTED DEC/l9, 1905.

' A. H. CONN.

NECK YOKE CENTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.21. 1905.

3142M es 563 ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NECK-YOKE CENTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1905.

Application filed March 21, 1905. Serial No. 251,196.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANDREW H. CONN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cedar Rapids, in the county of "Linn and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements in Neck-Yoke Centers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in neck-yoke centers, and to that particular type in which the yoke-center is constructed of successive layers of leather provided with an intermediately-arranged rein forcing-ring of metal.

The invention also contemplates a construction of such a nature that great strength and necessary flexibility are combined in the yoke pm 86, neither requirement being sacrificed to the other, as is the case in the prior constructions in the art.

IVith this improvement in view the invention comprises a ring supported in the leather center bya pair-of metal toggles, one disposed on each side, said ring being seated in an approximately annular recess in the leather and capable of limited lateral movement to either side in'absorbing the vibration of the carriagepole.

In carrying out the advantages above outlined I have constructed adevice which is ex ceedingly simple and easy to manufacture, as well as to attach to the wagon-pole, no extraneous means for securing the same being necessary as an auxiliary in augmenting the flexibility of the motion of the center in any direction in absorbing the vibrations of the pole.

The invention consists more particularly in the construction and arrangement of parts to be more fully set forth and specifically pointed out in'the description and claims hereto appended, particular reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a view in perspective, illustrating the center as it appears in use upon the neck-yoke and having the carriage-pole extending therethrough. Fig. 2 is a top plan view in which the upper layers of leather are removed to show the manner of securing the ring so as to permit of flexibility of motion of the whole structure. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the elements assembled. Fig. 4 is a view of one of the connecting-toggles detached, and Fig. 5 is a top plan fragmentary view of that portion of the reinforcing-ring at which the connecting-toggles are secured.

In the accompanying drawings,A designates the central layer of leather, which is considerably thicker and stronger than the successive leather layers arranged on each side thereof, of which any number may be employed, but as shown in the drawings, which represent the preferable embodiment of my invention, two thin layers of leather are successively arranged on each side of the layer A, these thin layers being designated a. Thethick leather layer A and the thin layers a on each side thereof are secured together by a row of stitching extending around the edge of the yoke-center. An annular opening, as at B, is formed in each layer, so as to register with the adjacent layers to receive the end of the carriage-pole, and a line of stitching concentric with this opening secures together the annular edges of the leather layers.

The layer A is formed in two approximately annular concentrically-arranged sections, the larger section being designated a and the smaller section (0 an annular space being left between these sections. The layer a has its upper portion flattened for a short distance, as at a and the layer a has its upper portion formed with a recess (0, having five sides,

which, coacting with the flattened portion of the layer (L form an approximately hexagonal recess in which the toggle-links securing the ring in position are seated. I do not limit myself to any particular form or number of sides in the construction of this recess, but merely show a recess of hexagonal contour as a form admirably suited to carry out the purpose of my invention.

An approximately annular metallic reinforcing member C, which for the purpose of convenience I shall designate a ring, is seated in the annular space between the concentrically-arranged sections a and a of the layer A, and this ring (1 corresponds in shape to that of the section a the ring being formed with a straight portion at the top which bulges into a bow-shaped cross-sectional contour at the center, this bow-shaped portion being designated 0 and having depressions c and 0 on each side of the bow-shaped portion and lying in a lower plane than the portion'c and the body of the ring 0. Toggle-links 0 are arranged on each side of the portion 0, these links being of approximately triangular contour and having depressions and ridges corresponding to the depression 0 and 0 and the raised portion 0, the two adjacent sides of these links being parallel with one another and the other sides being parallel with the adjacent sides of the hexagonal recess. Clips 0 embracing the upper side of each link, are employed to secure the links and ring in position, these clips having their ends formed with registering apertures to receive a bolt 0 extending through the leather layers, the binding-clips, and the parallel sides (5 of a clip D, these sides overlying the exterior surface of the outer layers. The clip D is employed to secure the yoke-center upon the neck-yoke.

Heretofore metallic rings have been employed as yoke-centers without any covering of leather. These rings in the course of wear and use cause the carriage-pole to become scratched and rough and wear away the painted surface. Where leather centers are employed, hard use in driving soon causes the leather to break and the stitches to become loose, the center being then practically worthless. I It is clearly obvious that the present invention overcomes both objections to the construction now in use, as the leather will not wear away the carriage-pole and the metallic ring materially strengthens the structure, the said ring at the same time being embedded in the leather layers in such a manner that the limit of motion in any direction in which the pole may vibrate is allowed.

It is obvious that minor changes suggested from time to time in practical use may be made in the form of my invention without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim 1. A center for neck-yokes comprising exterior layers of leather, an intermediate layer of leather composed of two concentric annular sections, one section extending laterally and being formed with a recess therein, a metallic ring arranged between the annular sections of the intermediate layer, said ring being formed with a straight portion at the top seating in said recess, links engaging the straight portion of the ring and clips engaging said rings and secured to the leather portion of the yoke.

2. A center for neck-yokes comprising a series of successive layers stitched together having a metallic reinforcing member loosely mounted therebetween, said member being held in place by a plurality of toggle-links.

8. A center for neck-yokes comprising a series of successive layers stitched together having a metallic reinforcing member loosely mounted therebetween, said member being held in place by a plurality of toggle-links secured in the casing by rigidly-mounted clips.

4. A center for neck-yokes com prising a series of successive layers stitched together having a metallic reinforcing member loosely mounted therebetween, one of said layers being formed with a recess, said member being seated in an annular space between the concentrically-arranged sections of one of the layers and having a laterally-extending portion seating'in said recess and links loosely engaging said laterally-extending portion of the ring, said links being attached to the said series of layers, substantially as described.

5. In combination with a neck-yoke clip, a neck-yoke center embodying a series of leather layers bolted at their upper end to the clip, and a metallic reinforcing-ring embedded in the layers and connected by links'to the bolts that secure the leather layers to the clip.

6. A neck-yoke center comprising a pliable body, a metallic reinforcing-ring, embedded therein, a yoke-clip to which the body is secured, and links loosely connecting the ring to the clip.

7. A neck-yoke center comprising a pliable body having a central aperture, a metallic reinforcing member embedded in the body'and entirely surrounding the aperture, a yokeclip to which the body is connected, a clip embedded in the body and fixedly connected to said body and yoke-clip, and means loosely connecting the said clip and the reinforcing member.

8. A neck-yoke center comprising a pliable body, a yoke-clip to which the body is connected, a rigidreinforcing member embedded within the pliable body, and means inclosed within the pliable body and independent of the reinforcing member connecting the latter to the yoke-clip and so arranged as to permit the free bending of the body adjacent the connection thereof with the yoke-clip.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANDREW H. CONN. Witnesses:

JOHN BURIOENEK, J r., CHAS. KUBIAs. 

